Selectmen to recommend town manager, abolishing BPW at Town Meeting

FAIRHAVEN — The town could move to a more "pyramid" style government if recommendations are accepted by Town Meeting this spring to change from an executive secretary to town manager.

Selectmen voted Tuesday to put it up for a Town Meeting vote along with other suggestions made by the state Department of Revenue (DOR), which did a study of Fairhaven's town government. These include abolishing the Board of Public Works (BPW) and Personnel Committee and reducing the number of Finance Committee members from 13 to seven.

Select Board Chairman Brian K. Bowcock had fellow selectmen vote on these recommendations Jan. 22, even though the DOR representative will be making a presentation Jan. 24 to department heads.

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He described the change as moving to a pyramid style from the linear style the town has now with independently elected boards running various departments.

Selectman Robert Espindola, who initiated the DOR study, asked why they weren't waiting for the DOR to meet with town staff and answer their questions, but Mr. Bowcock said they should move ahead with recommending changes. Mr. Bowcock said the changes would bring improvements to the way Fairhaven is managed in the future.

The change to town manager would have to be approved by the state Legislature.